Edinburgh dispute deepens crisis

Scottish rugby is mired in crisis after the ongoing dispute between the Scottish Rugby Union and Edinburgh Rugby Limited took another baffling twist.

The dispute centres primarily on the distribution of Magners League and Heineken Cup fees, with Edinburgh owner Bob Carruthers claiming the SRU owe them a six-figure sum, which the union deny.

Edinburgh escalated the row when they prevented 12 of their players training with their Scotland team-mates last week then followed it up in dramatic and unexpected fashion by resigning their associate membership of the SRU yesterday.

The game's governing body then issued a statement which suggested that, as a consequence, Edinburgh would be unable to play Magners League or Heineken Cup fixtures next season, although they do not start until September.

It was also claimed: "Edinburgh Rugby's contracted players are no longer insured by the governing body scheme for the purposes of training or playing."

However, in another statement released late yesterday afternoon, Carruthers claimed the club can still fulfil fixtures and that their players were insured. It also claimed court proceedings were being prepared against the SRU for breach of obligation.

The statement concluded: "ERL consider SRU to be in breach of their obligations and that proceedings are being drafted. ERL have repeatedly offered to go to mediation with SRU.

"SRU have now formally rejected that proposal and, accordingly, court proceedings are being prepared. ERL deeply regrets that an accommodation has not been reached with SRU, and is very concerned that SRU does not wish to mediate, and would rather spend its limited resources litigating with ERL.

"ERL will continue to run Edinburgh Rugby and fully intends to fulfil all of its playing and contractual commitments. So far as ERL is concerned, it's business as usual."

The SRU refused to comment on Edinburgh's most recent statement.